Combination belt buckle and coin receptacle



y 1958 H. EPSTEIN 2,836,351

COMBINATION BELT BUCKLE AND com RECEPTACLE Filed April 21, 1955 INVENT OR H YMAN EPSTE/N ATTORNEYS United States Patent COBIBINATION BELT BUCKLE AND COIN RECEPTACLE Hyman Epstein, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application April 21, 1955, Serial No. 502,977

1 Claim. (Cl. 232-6) This invention relates to apparel and more particularly to a device which serves the dual functionof providing a belt buckle and also a receptacle for coins.

As is well known, younger people, particularly boys of tender age, are prone to lose coins and the like, carried in the pockets, such loss being frequently due to holes in the pockets and also, frequently due to the violent acrobatic exercises which children are apt to engage in. Consequently, a coin receptacle which is incorporated as a part of the clothing and which is not subject to wear which would cause holes and the like, therein and also one which is decorative, is highly desirable and appeals to such young people.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a combination belt buckle and coin receptacle including a slot to permit convenient insertion of coins into such receptacle and which will serve to securely retain such coins without loss, until it is desired to remove the same therefrom.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a combination belt buckle and coin receptacle which may be made entirely of metal or other suitable material and which will present a highly pleasing appearance and, at the same time, safely contain and carry coins without danger of loss.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a combination belt buckle and coin receptacle provided with a hinged cover and in which means is incorporated to prevent loss of coins between the hinged end of the cover and the body of the receptacle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a combined belt buckle and coin receptacle in which convenient finger engaging means is provided to facilitate opening of the cover of such receptacle for removal of the coins therein and in which such cover is retained against inadvertent opening.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a combination belt buckle and coin receptacle in which the coin receptacle features are entirely separate from the buckle features.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective showing the combination belt buckle and coin receptacle of this invention;

Fig. 2, a front elevational view of the buckle and coin receptacle of this invention;

Fig. 3, a rear elevational view;

Fig. 4, a top plan View showing the coin slot to facilitate insertion of coins into the receptacle; and

Fig. 5, a sectional view taken substantially on the line --5 of Fig. 2.

With continued reference to the drawing, there is shown a combination belt buckle and coin receptacle constructed in accordance with this invention and comprising a generally rectangular body 10 having a relatively flat back plate 11, such plate being provided at one end thereof with an elongated loop 12 and at the op- 2,836,351 Patented May 27, 1958 2 posite end with a hooked-shaped tab 13. Loop 12 and tab 13 are provided to facilitate attachment of the body 10 to a belt, not shown.

Extending forwardly from the upper and lower side edges of the back plate 11 is an upper flange 14 and a lower flange 15. Upper flange 14 is provided with a slot 16 extending therethrongh, the purpose of which will presently appear. Both flanges 14 and 15 are provided with curved front edges 17 and 18 and also provided in the flanges 14 and 15 adjacent one end thereof, are apertures 19 and 20 respectively, the purpose of which will be presently described.

A cover plate 21 of a curvature generally corresponding to the curvature of the front edges 17 and 18 of the flanges 14 and 15 is provided and such cover plate 21 is. provided at one end thereof with upwardly anddownwardly extending tabs 22 and 23 which are pivotally received in the apertures 19 and 29 and the flanges 14 and 15. This serves to hingedly mount the cover plate 21 between the flanges 14 and; 15?. In order to enhance the decorative eifect of the buckle of this invention, the cover plate 21 may be provided with an embossed or otherwise applied design 24 on the front surface thereof.

In order to retain the cover plate 21 in closed posi-- tion between the flanges 14 and 15, there is provided a forwardly extending, locking tab 25 on the back plate 11, which tab 25 serves to frictionally engage the free end 26 of the cover plate 21. The engagement of the locking tab 25 with the end 26 of the cover plate 21 is relatively strong, in order to prevent inadvertent opening of the cover plate 21, but in order to facilitate such opening, when desired, there is provided on the cover plate 21 adjacent the end 26 thereof, a forwardly extending finger engaging tab 27 which may be engaged simultaneously with the tab 25 and by a twisting motion the cover plate 21 may be conveniently opened against the resistance of locking tab 25.

In order to prevent the passage of coins within the receptacle between the end 23 of the cover plate 21 and the back plate 11, there is provided in the back plate 11 a plurality of forwardly extending dimples 29 which form an obstruction immediately adjacent the space between the end 28 of the cover plate 21 and the back plate 11 and prevent passage of coins through such space when the cover plate 21 is closed and also, during movement of the same to open or closed position. The slot 16 in the upper flange 14 is provided in order to permit convenient insertion of coins into the receptacle, even though the cover plate 21 is in closed position.

It will be seen that by the above described invention, there has been provided a relatively simple, yet highly effective and decorative combination buckle and coin receptacle which provides a double utilitarian purpose and prevents loss of coins which, as mentioned above, is a frequent occurence among people of the younger generation. The combination buckle and coin receptacle of this invention may, of course, be manufactured of metal, plastics or any other desired or suitable material and a variety of designs may be provided in order to present a more pleasing and desirable appearance.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A combination belt buckle and coin receptacle comprising an elongated, generally rectangular body having a substantially flat back plate, a loop at one end of said plate and a hooked-shaped tab at the opposite end for attaching said body to a belt, upper and lower flanges exr i V f ae eau tending forwardly from the side edges of said plate, the

' forward edge of each flange-being curved; a covercomprising a curved plate substantially co-extensive with said back plate and having a curvature substantially corresponding with the curvature of thefront -edges-ofsaid flanges, tabs extending frornthe upper and lower side edges of said curved plate adjacent one end thereof,

versely spaced from and adjacent said locking tab to cooperate with said locking tab and facilitate release of said curved plate from said locking tab,'a plurality of dimpleseittending forwardly froni said back platelsubstantially into contact with said curved'plate when said curved plate is closed, said dimplesbeing adjacent to but inwardly of the pivoted end of said curved plate said dimples being spaced apart a distance less than the diearneter of a coin to be deposited in said receptacle to prevent passage of coins between said back plate and the V pivoted end of said curved plate and a slot in said upper flange to facilitate introduction of coins into said receptacle. v

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,189,258 Kavanagh July 4, 1916 1,508,963 Dorf Sept. 16, 1924 1,558,406 Snyder Oct. 20, 1925 1,568,022 Landrum Dec,e2 9,1925

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